THRILLING SEA STORY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3434, 27 January 1912, Page 9

THRILLING SEA STORY.

DEATH-HAUNTED BARQUE’S LONG VOYAGE. Behind the simple log of the voyage of the large Norwegian barque Norastern, from South America to Goole, Yorks., lies a thrilling story of a seaman’s heroism in face of continuous storms and bad weather, aggravated by great privations, and disease and death among the crew. The Nordstern, with a cargo of cedar wood, left San Tuan del Sur (Nicaragua) on March 18th, and all went fairly well until May Bth. when she encountered a terrific gale. Every bit of sail was taken in, but the ship would not answer to her helm. Her leeward bulkwark was right under the water, and she labored heavily in the raging seas, which were continually washing over her poop deck. Eventually the boat skids were smashed and the port lifeboat, swinging out into the davits, was lifted by the waves unhooked, and drifted away. Three days later the cargo shifted over to port, giving the ship an alarming list, and under these conditions the captain and crew struggled on until June 21st, when the wind increased, and all hands had to bottle through 'the night against a blinding storm of hail. Sis days later, Ole Pensen (carpenter), Carl Arvaeson (steward), and. Thomas Anderson, (seaman), showed symptoms of beri-beri. and on the following day Arvo Blomfield and George Hansen sickened. Fresh food was scarce. There were no potatoes, and salt beer was the chief food. About the beginning of July, Captain Olsen fell ill, and he died on the loth. His body was bound in sail cloth, and placed in a box with iron lashings. All hands who were able to assemble on deck, took part reverently in the simple funeral service, and were deeply affected when their captain’s body was lowered into the sea. The first officer, Fredk. Sandelin, a native of Arendal, took command, and he and the crew agreed to continue the voyage to Barbadoes, where they were certain to obtain medical treatment for the men who showed symptoms of beri-beri, and a supply of' fresh provisions. Barbadoes was reached on August 7th, the vessel anchoring in the Bar Roads. When.the doctor went on board he ordered eight men into the hospital, and two days later four other victims were down with the disease. The steward died on the dav of his admission. All the provisions on'board the ship were condemned by the doctor and destroyed. The crew, of course, were paid off, and not a hand was left. ' Captain Sandelin was determined to sail bis ship, and, after remaining about ten days in the port, he set about finding a new crew. All he could obtain were a dozen negroes and two white men. Had it not been for the latter it would have, been impossible to have worked the ship. He lert Barbadoes on August 18th, and between that date and October 18th, when he entered the English Channel, he had heavy gales to face. During one fempetuous night his foremost stay vas smashed on both sides, and. terrible damage was done in other directions, but. after drifting about the. Channel for nearly four weeks, Captain Sandelin brought the ship and his extraordinary crew safely to Goole.